Label-applying device



2 heets-Sheei; l

INVENTOR 75. @a BY f: y

ATTORNEYS.

A. M. PRICE LABEL APPLYING DEVICE Original Filed March 5, 1919 May 41926.v

May 4 192e. 1,583,700

' A. M. PRESE LAEEL APPLYING DEVICE Original Filed March m9 Shams-snaai2 INVENTOR ATTOR N EYS.

l BY@ m' ,VM

Patented May 4, 1926,

ALBERT IVI. PRICE, O ELGIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'ro WM. WRIGLEY Jn.ooiirrANY,

or CHICAGO, rumors, A conronnrron or lWnsrVIRGINIA LABEL-APPLYING nnvronOriginal application` led March 3, 1919, Serial No. 280,283. New PatentNo..1,4191,970, dated'April 29,

1924. Divided and this 4application filed 'May 6, 1922. Serial No.558,930. j v

To all whom t may concern.' J Y Y Be it known that I, Amnnn'r M. Pnicn,citizen of the United States residing-at Elgin, in the county of Kaneand State of Illinios, have invented new and useful ImprovementsinLabel-iipplying Devices, of which ythe following is a specification.

The present invention rela-tes to label applying devices and isparticularly adaptable for applying labels or outer Wrappers toindividual sticks of Vcherfving gum Yto which an inner Wrapper haspreviously been applied. f

A general object of the invention is` to provide certain new and usefulimprove` ments inthe construction and mode of operation of devices ofthe above named character to adapt them for the performance of,

their functions in a more practical, efficient, and reliable manner.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide improvedmechanlsm foi1V applying glue to the labels.

To the accomplishment of these objects and such others as mayhereinafter appear, as: Will be readily. understood by those skilled inthe art, the invention comprises the features and combination of'partshereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

The invention is shown as applied to the Wrapping machine illustratedand describedv in a co-pending application Serial Number 280,283, lil-edMarch 3, 1919, by the present inventor, and from -vvhich the'presentapplication has been divided. The invention however. is not limited inits use to the type of machine illustrated.

In the accompanying drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the preferred embodiment of theinvention, together with so much of the Wrapping machine of theco-pending application above referred to as' is necessary to illustratethe application ofthe present invention thereto:

2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 2 2 of Fig.1; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational vi-evvcf the label'guide rod.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 show successive steps in the folding of the labelaround the article.

The mechanism shown in the drawings is adapted to operate upon articlessuchV as sticks of chewing gum Which are supplied thereto by meansdisclosed inthe above meinV tioned application, Serial No.y 280,283,vsaid means operating to fold an inner Wrapper around the sid-es,longitudinal edges and ends of the gum sticks and deliver them to theillustrated mechanism. The mechanism herein illustrated operates tocomplete the folding of the inner wrapper about the gunr sticks and thento apply another wrapper or label outside ofthe first Wrapper. beingWrapped and labeled, the gum sticks are ready to be stacked andpackaged, if`

desired.

Referring to ig. 1, themechanism there- After in shown comprises, ingeneral, a charging K- table 23 across which a stick of gum, partiallyenclosed by an inner Wrapper,'is advan'ced While the operation 'ofapplying said wrapper is completed by suitable folding' devicesassociated with the tablegtransporter members 78 arranged inlongitudinalslots 'in the charging table and movable through orbitalpaths to` advance the gum .sticks .f' means including a. pair ofcooperating` feed rolls 146 and 147 for feeding a label or routerlWrapper infront of the gum sticks at the delivery end of the chargingtable;- an intermittently rotatable drum 100 secured to a shaft 101v andhaving lbngitudinal'-v pockets '102that are successively positioned toreceive the gum sticks as they leave the charging' table together .withlabels which are folded over the sticks as the latter are forced intothe drum pockets; a receiving.

table 222 to which the Wrapped and partially labeledsticks aretransferred from tht drum pockets 102; a glu-e applying mechanismincluding a plurality of glue rolls 175 and a movable guide-rod 189which moves the ends of the labels into contact with the glue' rolls asthe former are advanced into 'the field of operations of\said guide-rod;

transporter members 224, y'analogous in construction and mode -oifopera-tion to thef transporter members 78, and movable throughlongitudinal slots in the table 222, for remoying the Wrapped andlabeledl articles from the drumY 100 and Aadvancing` them along saidtable, and beneathv a plate 241 that is supported immediately above thetable, -said operation resulting in bringing the qopposterends of theYlabels together;

and devices`241a carried by the plate 241 for forcing the gum sticksagainst the table V922 to hold the label ends together under pressureduring their initial gluing contact.

All of the parts above mentioned, have substantially the sameconstruction and ymode of operation as that of corresponding partsillustrated and described in said copending application, Serial No.280,283. Therefore, only a briefand general description of the commonfeatures of the twol machines will be given, reference being had to saidapplication for a more detailed descrip* tion, if desired. Y

yThe sticks of gum with their inner wrappers con'ipletcly applied areadvanced intor the pockets of the drum 10() by the action ofthetransporter members'78. These members consist of two flat verticalplates rigidly lconnected in spaced apa-rt relation by means of tie-rods77.. Each transporter member 78 has three propulsion fingers SO, 61 andl62 which enter the slots in the table 23 to engage and advance thesticks resting thereon. The transporter members 224 which remove thewrapped and labeled sticks from the drum 100 and feed them along` thetable 222, are rigidly connected in spaced ,relation by tie rods 226 and227 and are severally rigidly connected by longitudinal beams, one ofwhich is shown at 76 in Fig. 1, with the transporter members 78. Theentire transporter structure is mounted upon crank pinsand S6 extendinglfrom crank-arms 87 and 88 secured to shafts 89 and 90. These shafts arerotated in unison in a counter clockwise direction so that the fingersof the transporter plates 78 and v224 will be repeatedly raised andcarried through the slots in the tables 28 and 222 to propel the gumsticks step-by-step along said tables.

The drum 100, which receives the sticks as they leave the chargingtable, is of cylindrical form and has a plurality of tangential pockets102 for holding the wrapped sticks of gum. in order that the pockets 102shall be successively positioned to receive the gum sticks fr in thecharging table, the drum is rotated intermittently. To this end, thedrum is connected with a shaft 26 through a train of gearing comprisinga gear 259 fast on the shaft 101, an idler gea-r Y258 and a gear 257that is fined to the shaft 26. Secured to the sha ft 26 is a disk 254carrying upon one of its faces four triangular plates 2.55 arranged toprovide four radial cam passageways 256. rihe cam passageways areadapted to be acted upon by rollers carried by a gear 250 that is fastupon a continuously rotating shaft 251 lVith this construction, the drumis rotated intermittently and through ninety degrees at each stepmovement thereof.

The labels which are to be fed in front of the git-ni sticks just beforethe latter are gear 27 3 on said shaft which meshes with` the gear onthe shaft of the feed roll 147. After passing between the feed rolls 146and 147 each label is guided downwardly by guide blocks 162 andthereafter it isreceived between the roller 147 and the cylindricalsurface of the drum 100. The labelZ is then fed downwardly between thedrum 100 and the e-nd of table 23 to the position shown by dot-ted linesin Fig. 1 preparatory to -receiv-r ing a wrapped stick from said table.Then the' label has been fed into this receiving position, the drinn 100will be at rest with one of its pockets 102 positioned in horizon talregistration with passagewayy above the table 23. The ngers 82 of the7trans-porter mechanism will then shift the wrapped gum stick against thelabel end' to fold such end aroundr the stick and to carry the stickinto the drum pocket. rlhe drum has peripheral concave sections 165which come opposite the feed roll 147 to release the label end so thatit will be free to be folded into the drum pocket with the gum stick asshown in vertical slot 169 for receiving` a pin 170 eX- tending betweenlugs 171 projecting from the glue container. rThe upper end of the Vslotis of a diameter to fit the pin, but the throat of the slot isV narrowto receive only the reduced diameter' sections 1772l of the pin.

rlhe pinis slidable in its supporting` lugs and after the pins 168 areinserted in the horizontal slot 167, the pin is shifted to bring thereduced section 172 into registration with the slot 169 and then whenthe receptacle is shifted upwardly toy bring the pin into the end of theslot, the pinV is shifted longitudinally to displace the reduced scctionfrom the slot throat and the glue container will then be rigidly held inoperative position. "At one side the container has the slide 178 forpermitting the charging' of glue into the centaine@ while at the otherside are openings 174 through which project the `glue-applying rolls ordisks 175 supported and spaced on.l the shaft 176 jour-` is a ratchetdisk 178 with which a pawl 179 cooperates. This pawl is pivoted by a pin180-at the outer end of the arm 181 extending from the hub 182 bearingon shaft 188 which extends transversely Aof the machine and isjournalled in a bearing hub 18-1. Secured to the shaft Vin front and inrear of the hub 182 are the hubs 185 and 186 from which arms 187 and 188extend upwardly to support the label guide rod 189 which is parallelwith-the shaft 176 and adjacent the glue-applying disks 175. On brackets190 and 191 extending upwardly and di-j agonally from the arms 187 and188 a stripper plate 192 is supported in such manner to be sli-dableforwardly and rearwardly to-be removed from the machine or inserted -inoperative position on the brackets. The lower'end of the stripper pleteis between the rod 189 and the peripheries of the glueapplying disks 175and has notches 198 registering with the disks, while the rod 189 hasperipheral notches 194 in registration with these stripper plate notchesand disks.

The'arms 187 and 188 with the rod and plate supported thereon areadapted to be swung toward or away from the glue-applying disks.Depending from the hub 186 is the arm 195 which at its lower end'has theextending arms 198 and 199 'terminating vin inwardly extendingflanges`200 and 201.

Through these flanges and slidable therein extend abutment rods 202 and208 having at their inner ends the abutment heads 204 and 205 and.having at their outer ends adjusting nuts 206 and 207. Between theirabutmentheads and their respective flanges the rods support compressionsprings'208 and l209. The function of the mechanism just described isthat the arm 195 may be positively operated back and forth with a Vforceequivalent to the tension on' the springs 208 and 209, but should aresistance be encountered by any of the parts carried on the upper endsof the arms 187 and 188, due to materials dislodged from their regularcourse through the machine, or from other causes, then the springs 208and 209 will alternately yield, and the arm 197 may oscillate withouttransmitting its motion to the arms 187 and 188, thus preventing` damageto the various mechanisms involved. A frame part 210 connects the leftend of arm 198 with the end of arm 181, to which arm i 181 the pawl 179is pivoted. For yieldingly holding the upper end of the pawl against theratchet 178 the compression spring 211 providedl in the ypocket`212 ofthe frame part210andpresses against the lower end of thefpawl.

At its lower end the" 'arm 197 is pivoted to one endr of a connectingliiik218, whichl link pivots at its 'other end. to ythe arm 211 on shaft215, this shaft at the rear ofthe machine having the upwardlyezitendingarm 21.6 connected with thek arm 217 'extending from theeccentric strap 218 which encircles the eccentricidisk 219 on' the shaft89. As

this shaft 89 rotates the arm 197 with its abutment frame' thereon willbe oseillated laterally to positively swing the arm 181 and to operatethe pawl for advancing .the glue applying disks. `Through the flexibleabutment rods acting on the'lug 196,' the arm 195 and hub 186 may beloscillated, and this hub being secured to the shaft 188 such swing ofthe arm 195 will be communicated to the hub 185 which is also fixed uponthe shaft 183 and the arms 187 and y188v will i swing to operate the rod189 and plate 192 with reference to the glue-applyingdisks.

The free ends of the labels projecting from the 'l drum 100 aft-er gumsticks will extend downwardly between the drum and the stripper plate192 as" shown yby dotted lines in Fig.` 1 and also as in F 17g. 4, andafter a ninety degree rota-` reception 'of the' tion of the drum, afterreceiving a stick, the

label end will `be projected between the stripper plateand the rod 189into positionV to receive glue from thev glue-applying disks atV pointsslightly removed from the lower edge'of the label. As the glue-applyingdisks are rotated by the pa-wl and ratchet mechanism fresh glue will beavailable on their 4peri'pheries for each label, and after' the labelhas been positioned between thev plate 192 and rod 189,the arms 187 and188 are swung, and the stripper plate 192 and rod 189 are moved thereby.toward the disks which then pro-ject through the slots 198 of the plateand against the` label for applying short'streaks of glue g as shown inFig. 5 thereto. -t is to be noted that the glue is taken oft fromtheperipheries of therollers by Contact, i. e., therel is no wipingofthe glue-applying disks over the labelv or of the label across thedisks. to insure uniformity inv the glue-applying operations Vuponsuccessive articles and to prevent `undesirable misplacement or smearingof the glue.V After the glue has been applied to the label the arms 187and 188 are swung in the opposite direction to shift the stripper plate192 to raise the label awayl from the glue disks to prevent smearing ofThis feature tends p the passageway 221 which lies between the drum andthe end of a receiving table 222, the drum again coming to rest when itspocket, which contains the stick with the glued label, is in horizontalregistration with the passageway between the top of the table 222 andthe plate 241 rThe fingers of the transporter members 224 then engagethe gum stick and shift it onto the table into position beneath theplate 241.. and the extending end of the label to which the glue hasbeen applied will be pressed against the other end of the label and thelabel thus secured as shown in Fig. 4G. As the transporter structurecontinues to operate, the completely wrapped and labeled gum sticks willbe fed along the table 222 and they may be subsequently stacked andbundled, if desired.

It has been thc practice heretofore, to apply the glue substantially atthe edge of the label. so that when the meeting edges were broughttogether, the V*glue would be forced out or wiped across the label at a.point beyond the overlapping edge and become smeared across the face ofthe label. As a result of this practice the individually wrapped stickswould adhere to one another so that a person' would be unable to easilyremove a single stick of gum froma package without rst completelybreaking open the package in order to separate the sticks. By applyingthe glue as above described at points somewhat removed from the edge ofthe label and by making provision for preventing the glue from beingsmearedv across the edge of the label after it has been applied, theinventor has made an advance in the art which results in the productionof an improved package from the point of view of neatness and whichinsures against possibility of the individual sticks adhering to oneanother.

It is evident that changes and modifications ma-y be readily made in theconstruction and arrangement of the parts without departing from thescope of theinvention, and it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited to the construction and arrangement of part-s shown anddescribed eX- cept so far as delined in the following claims.

That is claimed is:

l. In a label-applying device, a glue roll, a guide member adjacent theperiphery of the glue roll, means for holding an article having woundthereabout lone end portion of a label in process of being appliedthereto and advancing the article and label to introduce the free end ofthe latter between said guide member and the glue roll, means to carrythe free end of the label against the glue roll, and means for foldingthe glued end of the label against the opposite end thereof to securethe label. to thearticle.

2. In a label-applying device the combina,- tion of a drum provided witha pocket for holding an article having a label wound partly thereaboutwith the free end of the label extending outside of the drum pocket, akrow of glue applying disks adjacent the drum, a rod arranged adjacentthe path of the extending label end, means for moving the rod to presssaidflabel end against the glue applying disks and then to release thelabel, and means for removing the article from the drum pocket andfolding vthe glued end of the` label against the other end thereof.

3. In a label-applying device the combination of a glue applying disk, arod and a plate in front of said glue applying disk, said plate havingslots registering with vthe disks and adapted to receive the latter,means for holding an article. having a label partially wound thereaboutwith the free end oil" the label extending therefrom and advancing thearticle to introduce said eX- tending end of the label between said rodand plate, means for bodily shifting said rod and plate toward said glueapplying disk whereby said extending end of the label is pressed by therod against said disk to receive glue therefrom, andmeans for releasing`the article from the holding means and folding the glued end of thelabel against the article.

e. ln a label applying device the combination of a row of glue: applyingdisks, a glue pot in which the glue disks are partially submerged, a rodand a plate in front of said glue-applying disks, said plate havingslots registering with the disks and adapted to receive the latter,means for holding an article having a label partially wound thereaboutwith the free end of the label extending therefrom and advancing thearticle to introduce said extending end of the label between said rodand plate, means for bodily shifting said rod and plate toward the glueapplying disks whereby said extending end of the label is pressed by therod against the disks to receive glue therefrom 'and for,`

rotating thel glue disks to replenish the supply of glue on the exposedportions thereof7 f and means for releasing the article from the holdingmeans and folding the glued end of the label against the article.

5. ln a label-applying machine, the combination of an adhesive-applyingdevice, means for partially winding a label transversely around anarticle, with a free end of the label extending therefrom and for movingsaid free end to a point adjacent said adhesive applying device, meansmovable in one direction for engaging the free end of the label andmoving it into non-wiping contact with said device to receive adhesivetherefrom adjacent its marginal edge, and means movable in the oppositedirection for stripping the label end from said devices lll() attac/ooA6.*In a label-supplying machine, the combination `of anadhesive-applying device, means forr partially Winding a labeltransversely around an article with a free end of the label` extendingtherefrom and for moving said free end to a point adjacent said adhesiveapplying device, spaced label`engaging and guiding means between whichthe end of said label is carried so as to be out of contact with saidadhesive applying device, said engaging means being movable to press thelabeladjacent its end positively into engagement with said devicetoreceive adhesive, said parts being constructed and arranged to insurethat the adhesive willr be applied at a point removed from the edge ofthe label end.

7. In a label-applying machine, the combination of an adhesive-applyingdevi-ce, means for partially winding a label transversel around anarticle with a 'free end of the label extending therefrom and for movingsaid free end to a point adjacent said Yadhesive applying device, spacedlabel-engaging and guiding means between which the end of said label iscarried so as to beout of Contact with said adhesive applying device7said engaging means being movable to press the label end positively intoengagement with said device to receive adhesive and said guiding meansbeing movable to strip the label end from said members, and said partsbeing constructed and arranged to insure that the adhesive will beapplied at a point removed from the label end and that it will not besmeared toward said edge during the stripping operation.

8. In a label-applying machine, the combination of a charging table, adrum near said table having a pocket, means for rotating said drum tointermittently bring said pocket into registration with said table,means for feeding a label between said pocket and table, means forshifting an article from said table towardand into said pocket wherebyone end of said label. is shiftedvwith the article into the pocket andwrapped partly around the article, a glue applying disk, a bar arrangedadjacent the path of the extending end of the label, means for shiftingsaid bar to carry the label end against the glue applying, disk and`then to release such end, meansfor discharging the article from thedrum, and folding' mechanism for folding the glued end of the labelagainst the other end of the label.

9. In a label-applying machine, the coinbination of a drinn having apocket, means for feeding an article and one end ofa label into saidpocket to partially fold' the label around the article withits other endoutsideV of the drum, means for rotating said drinn, a glue applyingdisk, a rod and a plate in front of said glue applying disk betweenwhich the extending end of the label is projected during rotation of thedrum, means for bodily shifting'said rod and plate toward the 1 glueapplying disk and said plate having slots for receiving the diskswhereby the end of the label is pressedl by the rod againstfthe disk toreceive glue therefrom, and means operative after further rotation ofthe ydrum to eject the article Vand to wrap the glued end around itduring suchpejection. p

l0. In a label-applying machine, the combination of a drum having apocket therein, means for feeding an article and one end of a label intosaid `pocket to partially fold the label around the article and to leavethe other end outside of the drum, means for rotating said drum,glue-applying disks adjacent said drum, a rod and a plate parallel withsaid drum and the disk axis, arms on which said rod and plate aresupported, said rod and plate being normally in front of the disks inposition to receive the extending end of the label between them, saidplate having slots in registration with ysaid disks, means for swingingsaid arms to carry the lower end of the plate past thevdisk peripheriesandto cause the rod to press the trailing label end against the disksfor the reception of glue, the swinging of said arms to restore the rodand plate to their normal position thereby causing said plate to stripthe label end from the disks, means for ejecting the article from thedrum after further rotation thereof, and folding means for folding theglued end ofthe wrapper toward vthe article and against the other end ofthevwrapper. 4 l

ll. In a label-applying machine, the combination of a drum and means forcausing ,intermittent v rotation thereof, said drum having pockets,means for feeding articles into said pockets and one end of labels to bepartially wound about the articles with their outer ends extending fromthe drum, a row of glue-applying disks adjacent the drum, a rod and aplate between the drum and the disks separated by a gap, kmeans forswinging said rod and platel toward and away fro-in said disks, saidplate havingslots through which the disk peripheries may pro- Y jectwhen the plate and ro-d are moved toward the disks, the extending endsof the `labels being inserted between said rod and plater duringrotation of the drum so as to be carried by the rod against the diskstoreceive lglue when the rod and plate are moved toward the disks and tobe stripped from the disks by the plate when thevlatter is moved awayfrom the disks, means for ejecting the articles from the drum pockets,and means llt) for folding the glued extending ends ofthe label againstthe article.

12. In a label-applying machine, the combination of a drum having apocket, means for simultaneously feeding an article and one yend ofalabel into said pocket with the slots in registration with said disks,saidrod j and plate being normally'in position to receive the extendingend of the label in said 10a whcreb i' when said arms are swunO' saidVplate will be carried past the disk periphcries and said rod will pressthe label end against the disk peripheries to receive glue therefrom,ret-urn movement of the rod and plate to normal position causing saidplate to remove the glued label end from the disks, means fordischarging the article from the pocket, and folding means for foldingand securing the trailing label end to the other label part. f

13. YIn a` label-applying machine, the combination of a drum having apocket, mea-ns for simultaneously feeding an article and one end of a.label into said pocket with the other end of the label extending outsideof the pocket, a row of glue applying disks adjacent the drum,supporting arms adapted to swing in opposite directions, a rod and aplate secured to said arm between said drum and ldisks and separated bya gap, driving mechanism, and spring connections between said drivingmechanism and said supporting arms for causing the swinging o'I saidarms to carry said rod and plate yieldingly toward and from the diskaxis, said plate having slots in registration with said disks and saidrod and plate being normally in position to rece-ive the extending labelend in said gap whereby when said arms are-.swung in one direction saidplate will be carried past the disk pcripheries and said rod will pressthe label end against the disk peripheries to receive glue therefrom,and when said arms are swung in the opposite direction said plate willstrip the glued label from the disks.

14. In a label-applying machine, the combination of means for` holdingan article having a label partially wound thereabout vwith one end ofthe label extending therefrom and advancing the article to bring theextending label adjacent its end to a. predetermined position, andmeansl for applying adhesive to said #extending label end at a pointremoved from the edge thereof.

15. ln a label-applying machine, the combination of means for holding anarticle lhaving a label partially wound thereabout holding means tobring the face of said label end squarely into Contact with a point.

on the periphery of the roll and to remove it. from the roll withoutpermitting it to wipe across said periphery.

16. ln a label-applying machine, the combination of an'adhesive-applyingroll, means for holding an article having label partially woundthereabout with one end of the label extending therefrom and advancingthe article to position the label end adjacent said roll, and means formoving the label end into non-wiping contact with the periphery of theroll to receive adhesive and thereafter removing the label end from theroll in a direction substantially opposite te that in which it was movedinto contact therewith.

17. ln a. label-applying machine, the combination of anadhesive-applying roll, means for holding an article having a labelpartially wound thereabout with one end of the label extending therefromand advancing the Varticle to position the label end adjacent said roll,and means for engaging successively the opposite faces of the label endto move said end in fiatwise directions iirst into contact with theperiphery of said roll M and then out of contact therewith. j

18. In a. label-applying device, a glue roll, means for holding anarticle having wound thereabout one end portion of a label in process ofbeing applied t iereto and advancing the article sothat the free end ofsaidlabel is disposed ladj acent said glue roll, means for moving thefree end of said label into contact with said glue roll, means Lformoving and holding the label from contact with the glue roll and meansfor folding the glued free end of the label above the article.

19.v In a label-applying device, a. glue roll, means: for holding anarticle. having Awound thereabout one end portion of a label in processof being applied thereto, and advancing the article so that the otherend of said label is disposed adjacent said glue roll, means for movingthe said end of the label into contact with said glue roll, means formoving and holding the label from contact with the glue` roll and meansfor folding the glued end of said label about the article.

In testimony whereof Iv have aiiixed my signature. Y

ALBERT M. PRICE.

